As soon as the heat arrives, flies squeeze through every gap and turn the kitchen into their territory. If you're wondering how to get rid of flies in the house without filling the place with chemicals, here's a clear guide with home remedies for flies, tricks to drive them off and, above all, the keys to keeping them from coming back. They're irritating and unhygienic insects, but a few simple habits are enough to win your home back this summer.
Why there are so many flies in the house
Before you go on the attack, it helps to understand the source. If you're wondering why there are so many flies in the house even though it's clean, there's almost always something drawing them in: food scraps, ripe fruit, the bin, your pet's bowls or a drain with organic matter in it. Flies pick up those smells from a distance and come in looking for food and somewhere to lay eggs. Heat speeds up their cycle: in summer they go from egg to adult in a matter of days, so one small slip multiplies fast.
The most common are the house fly and the fruit fly, that tiny one that shows up next to the fruit bowl. Working out which one you've got helps you pick the right remedy.
How to get rid of flies in the house: what to do right now
To get rid of flies in the house once they're already inside, start with the basics, in order:
- Cut off the source. Cover the bin, put ripe fruit in the fridge and wash up instead of leaving dishes to soak.
- Air the place and create a draught. Open two facing windows first thing; many will head out on their own looking for the outside.
- Use the light. Flies head for bright areas: close the blinds in one room and leave a clear way out towards the open window.
- Deal with the stragglers using a fly trap or swatter, rather than spraying insecticide over kitchen surfaces.
If it's a full-blown invasion, check the drains and gullies: pour very hot water with a splash of vinegar down them to flush away the matter they breed in.
Home remedies for flies that actually work
Home remedies for flies are cheap and save you from harsh products. These are the most effective:
- Apple cider vinegar trap. Fill a glass with vinegar and a drop of washing-up liquid, cover it with cling film and poke a few holes in it. The smell attracts them and the soap breaks the surface tension so they can't escape. Perfect against fruit flies.
- Lemon studded with cloves. Push several cloves into half a lemon and leave it in the kitchen or on the table outside: the aroma repels them.
- A hanging bag of water. An old folk trick: a clear bag of water by the door disrupts their vision. It isn't foolproof, but it helps on a terrace.
How to keep flies away naturally
If you'd rather prevent them through smell, there are several plants and scents that keep flies away naturally. Basil, mint, lavender, bay and citronella in pots by windows and doors create a natural barrier and look good while they're at it. Eucalyptus or lavender essential oils in a diffuser have the same effect and leave a pleasant smell.
To shore up the kitchen, a good covered fruit bowl, airtight containers and a bin with a lid make all the difference. You'll find organisers and practical solutions for the home in our homeware shop, designed to keep everything tidy and free of the smells that attract insects.
Prevention: making sure the flies don't come back
Getting rid of them is half the job; what matters is that they stay away. A few simple habits:
- Take the food waste out every day in high summer.
- Wipe up crumbs and spills straight away, including under the appliances.
- Fit fly screens to windows and doors if you leave them open for long stretches.
- Check the dog's or cat's bowl and clear away the leftovers.
- Scrub the area around the bin once a week with water and vinegar.
Stick with it and summer becomes far more bearable, and your home stops being a magnet for flies.
In short
Knowing how to get rid of flies in the house comes down to cutting off whatever attracts them and backing that up with home remedies and plants that drive them off. Close the bin, put the fruit away, air the place sensibly and grow a bit of basil or lavender: those few habits will keep your home clear. And if you want to kit yourself out with organisers and practical accessories, take a look at Velia Select's new homeware and enjoy a summer without flies.